Feds: Erie felon possessed gun, cocaine

A former Erie man has been indicted on charges he illegally possessed two handguns and cocaine.

Shawn I. McCrorey, 44, faces five counts under the indictment handed down by a federal grand jury seated in Pittsburgh, including falsifying a firearms purchase form, possession of a firearm by a felon, using and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug crime, and possession with intent to distribute less than 500 grams of cocaine.

The government said McCrorey was found to possess cocaine and a handgun on Jan. 5. A second handgun was found in his home at 3333 Holland St., according to the indictment.

McCrorey obtained one of the handguns in December after he lied about his identity in paperwork he filled out at Bob's Gun Shop in McKean and also falsely indicated that he had no felony conviction, the indictment charges.

McCrorey -- under one of his many aliases, William Dean -- was convicted in 1994 of delivering cocaine. He is prohibited from possessing a firearm, the indictment says.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $2 million fine. The FBI-led Erie Area Gang Law Enforcement, or E.A.G.L.E., task force investigated the case.